Chapter 26
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I’ve warned you twice now. And I bet you were even told in an author’s note. So don’t bother complaining.
August
“I am dying. Death is very, very…happening right now,” December says, over the phone, in the dead of night.
Pausing typing the epilogue of my vampire story, I provide my closest friend with adequate distress. “Oh no. So sad.” I finish the line I was in the middle of. “I shall bury you in my guest bed. Have no fear. You are also quite welcome to haunt me.”
Pitifully, she coughs. “You don’t care about me at all. A true friend would rush to my side and hold my hand while I take my dying breaths.”
Is that what I’m supposed to be doing? I wasn’t aware her parents let her have friends over this late without a thorough plan preceding any and all sleepover intentions.
At any rate, I save my document.
I—valiantly—stand.
I take a step toward my office door!
“Ah.”
“What is it?” she asks, not even sounding a little bit dead.
“I’m already in my pajamas. Do you think you could die in the morning?”
A wee wail exits her. “The light…it’s coming for me…”
“Is that a maybe?”
Instead of a response, my doorbell rings. Several times.
Exiting my office, I march through my house.
“Are you here? I thought your parents didn’t let you out of your cage after dark.
Why aren’t you just barging in like normal?
You’ve never rung my doorbell in your life.
Are you actually dying? You know where I hide my spare k—” I open my front door. And freeze.
There, stunning in an array of dark cloth and lace, with blood-red eyes and scarlet lips and gothic airs…is my beautiful friend.
“Forgive me my out-of-character behavior.” She hangs up and tucks her phone in a pocket beneath her frills before she lowers her head in a bow. “My esteemed master begs upon your presence, Lady Saint.”
My throat closes as my heart thunders in my ears.
Hand to her heart, she presents…a wedding gown. Strung with yellow and sunflowers and everything I adore, the flowing garment rests upon a stand placed on my porch. “He bids you wear this and threatens me should you disobey his order.”
My lashes flutter as I come to. “Threatens you?”
Sorrow paints her smile. “Yes, my lady. Should I return empty-handed, it shall be my life he uses to sustain himself this eve.”
Gracious.
Lifting a shaking finger, I point. “I’m…supposed to wear that?”
“Yes.”
Gracious.
She continues, “I’m to aid you in your preparation.”
“Right. Yes. I…would appreciate that.”
Giggling, December drops the act and begins shuffling the thing inside. “Isn’t it pretty? I helped him pick it out, and—oh my word, August—it’s literally over ten thousand dollars. Custom made.”
“Custom made?” I blurt. “It’s been seven days.”
“I know.” Delirious delight sparkles in December’s lovely navy blue eyes. “He knew someone, contacted them immediately after getting your permission, got all the details and your size from me, and had someone fly across the country to pick it up on time.”
My stomach flips as my flesh prickles. “That’s insane.”
“I know.” December’s rose-red smile stretches. “Just your type.”
Swallowing a fragile breath, I attempt to calm the shake in my hands as I lift my fingertips to the silk. It’s the most beautiful dress I have ever seen in my life. I say, “W-well…we shouldn’t keep him waiting, right?”
“Oh no.” Suddenly quite severe, my darling friend says, “We should absolutely not keep any of them waiting.”
If that’s not terrifying, I hardly know what is. Nevertheless, I let December help me into the dress and a veil, then I step out with her into a moonlit night. “How in the world is this whole thing going to fit in a car?” I ask moments before lifting my gaze past my vehicle and my driveway.
To.
My father.
Who is sitting rigid in the driver’s seat of a horse-drawn carriage.
“Dad?” I whisper.
Face drawn with grey veins, the dark-cloaked man I’m certain raised me turns. The blood red of his eyes softens, then the dire expression on his face melts. “Oh, Augy. You look beautiful.”
It hits me then, as my father steps down from the dark vehicle decorated with black and white flowers occasionally broken by a yellow bud, that I’m getting married.
I’m actually getting married.
I’m in a ten-thousand-dollar dress about to ride in a carriage to my wedding.
Understandably, my mouth goes dry.
I’m not even wearing makeup.
December barely got a few brush strokes through my hair.
But this…this is happening, isn’t it?
I’m about to marry my boss, Alister, who doesn’t even know that I know who he is yet. Probably. I mean, he did assume that I’d suspect him at some point, otherwise he wouldn’t have started littering his schedule with fake meetings. But. Still.
I can hardly believe this is happening.
I can hardly believe my father is in a distressed dark suit and red contacts as he helps December and me up into the velvet seats of the covered carriage.
Once the wheels turn, I snap out of my shock and meet December’s ecstatic gaze. I whisper, “You suggested he was going to be plain old Dominic for this, yet both you and my father are clearly enthralled under a vampiric spell.”
Prettily, she settles her hands in her lap. “I don’t follow your point.”
My point is: “Dominic’s not actually a vampire.”
“Are you sure?”
Right now? Right now, I’m not sure about much of anything. But, oh, right, yeah, I am actually sure that vampires don’t exist. Dryly, I stare at my hopelessly romantic friend through my veil. “Really?”
“Just wait and see.”
I don’t have to wait long, because the carriage stops just a street down, by my brother’s house, where his yard opens up into the woods, and a short trail leads to the clearing where we used to play as kids back when his house was the one Lynn occupied herself and our Granee would take us with her to visit her friend.
Past the fireflies dancing near the cabin, I make out more lights beyond the trail. A bed of petals rustle in the balmy night, sticking to blades of grass.
The carriage door opens, and my father offers his hand.
Behind me, December gasps, throws open the other door, and leaps out. “My master calls. I must go!”
I startle as she ducks off and streaks across the yard. Petals kick up in her wake, and I’m left behind, staring.
“Are you ready, Augy?” my father asks.
“This is…really happening?”
He chuckles. “More or less, hon.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I whisper, finding his bloodshot eyes.
He taps a finger to his lips. “I couldn’t tell you. But I suppose you’ll find out in a moment. Shall we?”
Well. I guess we shall.
Carefully, I slip from the carriage and step into the petal-strewn grass. My father’s hold keeps me upright as I find myself steadily marching toward an eerie melody. The enchanting notes prickle my skin and make my heart race as the distant light grows. The wooded path opens at last upon…
Wow.
Lips parted, I stall on the edge of the clearing and stare.
Beneath a flower-laden arbor, Alister waits—hair black as the night above, eyes blue as the sea. Those eyes pierce me while candles and fairy lights flicker all around. Elegant tables with covered delicacies decorate one side of an ebony-carpeted aisle. On the other side…
My eyes widen.
My brother and December, both clearly dressed as thralls like my father, hold weapons above…
Um.
My lips part, but I genuinely have no words.
There’s my mother—eyes wild and frightened—sitting in an elegant dress with a black gag in her mouth.
And, oh, yes, that’s my Aunt Marie, looking dazed, with her arms tied behind her.
And there’s everyone else: Mirabelle, and her new husband, and Beth and Edgar, Lynn, my Granee and Grampy—who seems to have dragged himself away from Bear’s for once in his life—all seeming a little vacant as they sit huddled in their formal summer garb.
I’m not sure what’s crazier: my whole family being here, or my brother and my best friend lording above them. Holding scythes.
Deep, Alister’s voice trails up the aisle, luring my attention back to him. “Come, little saint.” His hand extends. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Yes. I mean. Clearly.
Heart stampeding through my chest, I follow my father as he brings me to Alister.
He’s just…perfect. Dark-haired. Wicked-souled. Handsome and committed and willing to go to any length for me.
Holding my gaze, he says, “Who gives this woman to me?”
“No!” my mother shrieks, and I jump, turning to find she’s shaken her gag off. True to my story, the saint’s blood is passed down maternally, meaning my mother wouldn’t be able to be enchanted like the others.
Snarling, Alister waves a hand, and my brother tucks the edge of his scythe beneath her throat. She gulps, and to my dear mother’s acting credit, tears glisten in her eyes in the gleam of the moonlight, fairy bulbs, and candle flames.
“As I was saying,” Alister murmurs, “who gives this woman to me?”
Bowing low, my father passes my hand off into his. “I do, my liege.”
Holy corn on the cob. My knees might actually not hold up here.
As Alister’s fingers wrap around mine, I fear passing out may be imminent.
He kisses my knuckles. I choke on my heartbeat.
“Oh, dear saint.” His eyes lift, and his smile condemns.
“I believe you understand the risk of denying me now. I’ve taken your family under my control.
They are mine for one purpose, and one purpose only—that you might also give yourself to me, becoming mine, too. ”
I understand that I have more than met my match.
I understand that I am going to marry this man—but not because he’s threatening my family or anything. No. That would be a silly reason when logic dictates that an ever-present, and irritating, reality persists around us.
I’m going to marry him because if this rush in my chest isn’t the plummet of falling in love, I don’t know what it could possibly be. I’m going to marry him because there has never been someone so willing to write me into a life of stories in the way he is.
In his eyes, I see dark promises. And in his actions, I know he’ll keep every last one.
Steeling myself as best I can on my trembling limbs, I say, “Don’t hurt them.”
“I won’t—if you behave.”
I let my eyes skim the harrowingly beautiful scene. “I see no officiator. If you are determined to bind us, who’s going to request our vows?”
December clears her throat as she abandons the hostages in favor of stepping up to the arbor. “I will. Should my master permit me the honor.”
Alister tucks an arm around my waist and pulls me in. His eyes never leave me as he says, “Begin.”
Dreamily, despite all her ebony attire, December says, “We are gathered here tonight to witness the joining of my dear friend, August Renee Winslow, and her soul’s mate, Alister Dominic Montgomery.”
I straighten as his full name comes unexpectedly.
“Oh?” Alister murmurs. “So you already knew?”
My fists ball in my wedding gown. “W-well, maybe a little bit.”
“And the blond thing, too, I presume? Here I thought I’d need to suggest my hair changed from dark magic.”
My cheeks flush. “You’re insane.”
“I suppose I am. I’m half certain that’s how we got here.” Nestling, he kisses my neck through the gauze of my veil. “You’ll have to tell me the story of how you found out later. I did think I was ever so careful and had you ever so duped.”
He really was so careful, but he never could have suspected that I’d go play Sherlock at his grandparents’ house.
December clears her throat. “As I was saying, Alister Montgomery, Prince of Capitalism and Other Such Wicked Things, do you take August Winslow to be your unlawfully wedded wife, to have her, and to hold her, and bring her endless joy, and paint her countless stories…for so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“And do you, August Winslow, Princess of Stories, take Alister Montgomery to be your unlawfully wedded husband, to have him, and to kiss him, and to use that inspiration to write me many more wonderful tales wherein I may not need to wait until the very end to indulge in a meager peck…” Her lashes flutter as she remembers the plot. “…for so long as you both shall live?”
I look at Alister, then past him, at my parents and friends and family. “Do I have a choice?” I whisper.
Slipping his warm hand beneath my veil, he cups my jaw and says, “No, not really. Not if you wish for them to see the dawn.”
“And if my blood poisons you,” I whisper.
“Oh, my love…” He touches his forehead to mine, only thin gauze separating our skin. “Whoever said I was after anything other than your heart?”
He’s actually too good at this.
“Your answer?” he prods, and the entire cast looks on, breaths bated, roles forgotten.
“I…” I shiver, even in the warmth of this tepid August night. “…do.”
December jumps, clapping her hands together. “You may kiss the bride! For eight entire pages! If you’d be so kind.”
I laugh. Alister dips me as my brother begins untying guests, who cheer like their lives weren’t just narrowly saved by my saintly sacrifice.
Clutching my unlawful husband, I say, “This is nuts.”
He unveils me and kisses my freckled nose. “It sure is.”
I glance at his lips. “Are you actually going to…”
He smiles. “Sure. Just this once I won’t even make you beg. But first…”
There’s more?
“Will you marry me tomorrow, August Winslow? In a courthouse. Preferably, with a license involved.”
Humming, I consider that one. It sounds rather boring if you ask me. Unless… “I’ll marry you next week.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve got to order a corset first. And…” I run my fingers through the dark, dark strands of his hair. “I think you’ll need a top hat.”
His thumb caresses my cheek. “As my author wishes.”
“Also,” I say, breathless, “I think….I’d like a little time between these stories. With just you. Just Ali.”
He laughs. “How much anime are we going to watch?”
“So much.”
Sighing, he murmurs, “Yare yare,” and then?
Then, he leans all the way in, and—
Fin.